Party Vibe

45PSI is Proud to Spotlight

FRICTION
DRUM + BASS // Valve Recordings // Shogun Audio // 1xtra // True Playaz
// Renegade Hardware·· UK

At the age of 26, Brighton raised Friction is one of a small number of young talented DJ/Producers that has made a significant impact in Drum & Bass in recent years. A clear indication of this is highlighted by his recent award for ‘World Best New Comer of 2002’ in the Drum & Bass Arena Poll Awards.

From the age of 15 Friction has been dedicated to developing his skills and ability to achieve where he is today. With plenty of releases across 10 labels, a batch burning in the pipeline, several residencies and his self owned imprints; where did the apocalyptic sparks ignite??

As a teenager whose first love was music, Friction used his friend’s decks to mix and was soon passing mix tapes around at school. Over the following 3 years Friction DJ’d out at events and promoted his own club nights. Acknowledgement came in 1995 when he started his own fanzine called ‘INFORMER. Although initially conceived to profile the local scene and boost DJ opportunities, acclaim & demand was received from all over the UK. Friction ceased the magazine after a couple of years to concentrate efforts on his burgeoning production career.

With his preference of music style and scene association it was inevitable he would link up with established producers such as Stakka, Skynet, Nu Balance & K-Tee. At the age of 18, Friction became friends with these Brighton based music heads and was soon inspired to produce the beats and bass he loved, provided by a perfect opportunity to be nurtured and gain production experience. Many hours were spent in the studio where Friction was able to develop and execute the natural talent he appeared to have. It was at this time he chose to pursue his career.

February ’99 welcomed his debut release. Using the collaborative name Kinnetix, Stakka & Friction released ‘Critical Mass’ on the Under Fire label. In November his 2nd release on this imprint, this time with DJ Skinny (Nu Balance), welcomed ‘Depth Charge’, although not before his talent was recognized by other labels. Friction was now receiving interest from major Drum & Bass record companies. Most significant was from Clayton, boss of TOV & Renegade Hardware. He was invited to produce a track for the ‘Here Comes Trouble’ EP. The result saw Friction’s elementary production ‘Photon’ gain him the position of a talented producer. Friction’s remix of ‘Photon’ shortly followed. He then partnered with Nu Balance for a further 2 signings to TOV, ‘Cryogenix’ and ‘Movement’, then followed by the solo release of ‘Iridium’ in June 2000, also on TOV.

Friction’s skills on the decks also did not go unnoticed and he soon found himself balancing production time with his increasing appearance schedule, playing at events such as TOV, Heat, Pure Science & Jungle Fever. With his natural ability to seamlessly cut, switch and blend, combined with his phenotype selection, the output of energy was guaranteed to keep any dance floor jumping.

Due to family commitments Friction took time out from production for a short time. Upon his return he hooked up with Keaton & Chris from ‘Usual Suspects’. Between them they ignited dance floors with the Summer 2001 release of ‘Stressed Out’ on TOV once again & ‘Lunacy’ on sister label Renegade Hardware. Immediately following was ‘Altitude’ with Stakka & Skynet, which was regarded as one of the most groundbreaking tech influenced drum & bass tunes of all time and still played by many DJ’s.

It was inevitable that 2002 would see a busy release schedule for Friction following a year of intensive time spent in the studio and a rapid rise of recognition from the dance floor, fellow DJ/Producers & label owners. TOV continued to embrace the success of Friction’s productions as the New Year welcomed the solo endeavour ‘Oblivion’.

Spring 2002 blossomed as Friction put his imprint firmly where only label boss Mampi Swift had been before. Charge Recordings welcomed its debut artist with the release of ‘The Power’ EP offering 4 fully charged tracks from Friction with the floor shaker ‘Immortal’ (featuring K-Tee). At this time Renegade Hardware were also keen to have a piece of the action when Friction teamed up with Universal Project and presented a 12² in the form of ‘Street Life’, providing a clear pathway for Friction’s ‘Final Judgment’ EP release on TOV.

The chemical reaction was set in process once again, this time on Total Science’s Advanced imprint. ‘Weird Vibes’ conjured up magic on the dance floors as once again Friction & Universal Project combined their substances.

April 2002 & firing on all cylinders….. Friction started his own imprint; ‘Transparent Recordings’ and soon after, ‘Heavy Rotation’. Friction has no intentions to release his own productions on the labels but alternatively is focusing on cutting edge Drum & Bass from fresh, aspiring producers.

Transparent’s debut release was from Brighton based Killer Instinct. The follow up introduced Puerto Rico’s young talented Fission and was quickly embraced by Trace, Dom, Kemal & Cause 4 Concern. Soon after, Friction was delighted to discover the talents of Raiden who offered the imprints 3rd release for 2002 with the much-played dubplate ‘Cenobyte’, providing a launch pad for an inspirational future. Since then releases have come from Concord Dawn, Rascal & Klone, Black Sun Empire and The Militia.

Following the spring boom of activity, 2002 saw TOV fire out ‘Fully Loaded’, another Friction & Nu Balance collaboration. It continued to be an explosive year; big players like Ed Rush, Bad Company, Zinc, Swift, Andy C and Grooverider were dubplate happy with his releases on CIA, Advanced, Outbreak, Renegade Hardware, Renegade Recordings and Underfire.

Now a regular on the UK club circuit Friction knows every bump on the Brighton to London road as he travels to his regular bookings at top venues across the country. He is rapidly developing legendary status at London’s ‘End Club’ after many jaw-dropping sets. As the releases flow and word spreads about his ability to enthuse a dance floor, regular flights out of London take him to play at events in Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Australia, Japan, USA, Singapore & France to name a few. Friction recently demonstrated his skills to a global audience when he was one of the first artists to feature on the newly formed Radio 1 Xtra station. Soon after this he was offered a role as the stations official ‘Mix DJ’. The year was topped off with Friction winning the title of ‘Best World Newcomer 2002’. People really were starting to take notice of the extreme talent he was offering.

In January 2003 Friction made a sharp entry into the on Swift’s other label Blade Recordings with ‘Burn Down’ and ‘Turmoil’ as well as an outing on Charge with his recently formed group, ‘The Militia’ alongside Stakka, K-Tee and Skinny. Releases have followed for the group on Hardware, Cargo and Transparent with more to follow. More solo releases are due to follow on Charge and Hardware, with more collaborations lined up as well.

With mass hysteria being caused at every venue he plays, his conscientious attitude and array of talent, it’s true to say that everybody is feeling the heat from Friction!!!